03/30/17 – 5:57 P.M.

The move to create a joint fire district in southwestern Hancock County could help ease burdens of off fire departments. Jenera Fire Chief Matt Boehm said that costs have become an issue.

Matt Boehm

By creating a fire district, the entities would be able to tax the entire district and save money. The district would also allow for more options in specialization and training.

Boehm said that this won’t cause any change in how they respond to a fire.

Matt Boehm

Boehm added that the discussion for a joint fire district started around 2000 but didn’t get serious attention until just a few years ago.

3/30/17 – 10:51 A.M.

A window replacement project at the Hancock County jail is complete. Lt. Ryan Kidwell says over the course of the project, they found some of the metal window frames were rusting. He says routine maintenance can help prevent that in the future…

Audio: Ryan Kidwell

Kidwell says the rusting frames in the old windows did not present a security risk.

He added the county commissioners want to keep the windows on a maintenance schedule to protect the county’s investment in the facility.

3/30/17 – 6:52 A.M.

A fiscal recovery plan for Fostoria is moving forward. The Review-Times reports the Fostoria Financial Planning and Supervision Commission unanimously voted in favor of the latest plan to get the budget out of the red.

The vote means Fostoria residents will see a 6-mill property tax on the November ballot. If voters pass the levy, it will generate around $3.5 million for the city by 2021. Money raised from the levy goes toward safety services. Fostoria officials say police and fire protection account for most of the city’s expenses.

State officials say even if the levy passes Fostoria’s budget deficit will grow this year before residents see progress next year.

MORE: Review-Times

3/30/17 – 5:33 A.M.

A two-car crash took the life of a Carey man early Wednesday morning. The State Highway Patrol reports the crash happened on Seneca County Road 591 west of New Riegel around 5:30 a.m.

42-year-old Christopher Jacoby of Carey was driving west on the roadway when he went left of center and hit a commercial truck driven by 60-year-old David Lucius of Tiffin. EMS responders pronounced Jacoby dead at the scene.

The patrol continues to investigate the collision, but officials believe alcohol may have been a factor.

The crash caused 100 gallons of diesel fuel to spill from the truck. The Ohio EPA responded to help clean up the fuel spill.

3/30/17 – 5:23 A.M.

The list of candidates running for mayor in Carey continues to grow. The Courier reports council President Jennifer Rathburn plans to run for the post this fall. Rathburn is already set to become mayor. She’ll take over the role this Saturday when Armand Getz’s resignation becomes official.

Rathburn will run as an independent. She faces Republican Robert Maison and Democrat John Green. Maison is a former mayor and law director, while Green is a former councilman.

MORE: The Courier